DOE Offers Awards to Recognize Best Practices in Community Solar Projects

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
April 24, 2023

The Department of Energy on April 20 said it was offering $200,000 in prize awards for community solar projects and programs that increase equitable access and ensure benefits go to subscribers and their communities.

The Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar were announced by DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office.  Applications will be accepted until July 14, 2023.

In its second year, the Sunny Awards recognize community solar projects, and state, municipal, Tribal, and utility-led community solar programs that employ best practices in delivering benefits to their subscribers and communities.

This second round offers up to five $10,000 Sunny Awards Grand Prizes to the top teams, up to 30 additional $2,500 Sunny Finalist Awards, and up to 15 $5,000 Meaningful Benefits/Engagement Awards to competitors who find effective ways to equitably deliver the specific, meaningful benefits of community solar identified by the National Community Solar Partnership, DOE said.

In 2020-2021, the American Public Power Association partnered with the National Community Solar Partnership on the Municipal Utility Collaborative to identify and address common barriers to community-based solar for public power. 

Click here for additional details.

National Community Solar Partnership Selects Teams to Participate in Competition

Separately, DOE announced that the National Community Solar Partnership has selected 25 teams to participate in the $10 million Community Power Accelerator Prize competition, which aims to establish a nationwide network of community solar project developers.

Successful teams have the potential to deploy as much as 150 megawatts of community solar across the country and access $5 billion in private sector financing through the Community Power Accelerator.

Click here for additional details including the list of the 25 teams selected.